Page Url:

Digital Cities Award to City of Charlotte

​​Charlotte Named One of Most Technologically Innovative Cities in the Nation

Queen City ranked in the top 10 for commitment to public access to data, citizen engagement

Charlotte, NC – The Center for Digital Government (CDG) named Charlotte one of the top 10 digital cities in the nation. The 15th annual Digital Cities Survey ranked Charlotte fourth among cities with populations of 500,000 or more for its commitment to using technology to improve citizen services, enhance transparency and encourage citizen engagement. Charlotte jumped five spots, from ninth place in 2015 to fourth place this year.

“We are proud to receive this recognition,” said City of Charlotte Chief Information Officer Jeff Stovall. “Our Innovation and Technology department works closely with city leadership and other departments to align our goals with their needs. Our focus on improving access to information includes Open Charlotte, the city’s data portal; our partnership with Code for Charlotte; a new user-friendly City website, and our broadband technology program, which enhances public safety by providing a faster and more secure broadband network for our police and fire departments.”

“This year’s top digital cities are using technology to ensure citizens can meaningfully interact with city government more easily than any other time in history,” said Todd Sander, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. “From open data portals to enhanced connectivity and mobile platforms, this year’s top-ranked cities are actively promoting transparency, encouraging citizen participation and making it easier for people to do business with government.”

The Digital Cities judging panel also noted Charlotte’s adoption of solar-powered compactors for trash receptacles, which are equipped with sensors that alert the appropriate city staff when they're full and ready for pickup. Charlotte also prioritizes cybersecurity, and enhancements and improvements over the last year created a solid infrastructure and security operations center.

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute focused on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. CDG is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.